Today, Environment and Tourism Minister Willem Konjore is to officially launch four community conservancies and a campsite in the Kavango Region.

These are the Joseph Mbambangandu Conservancy, the Muduva Nyangana, George Mukoya and Shamungwa conservancies and the Mbamba Community Campsite.

This brings to 44 the number of registered conservancies in Namibia, covering an area of 105 038 square kilometres or 13 per cent of the country's total land mass.

"It is a good thing in terms of conservation and development in the country because conservancies create jobs," Tsukhoe //Garoes, Head of CBNRM Unit in the Ministry of Environment, told The Namibian.

She said the increase in the number of conservancies meant that more people were going to benefit from the programme.

Namibia's CBNRM programme was officially launched in 1999.

About four conservancies have become financially independent, generating more money than their annual operating costs.

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